Lizzie

"Why don't you ask Lizzie, Ellie love?" I hear Dad's voice as I enter the kitchen. It's Sunday morning, and I'm going out prom dress shopping. I ought to be excited, and in a way I am. Who doesn't love shopping, right? The mix of emotions that invades my body, however, wanes from excitement of the whole prom and being close to Brandon held in his arms as we dance, and then what could happen next. To being petrified. What if he laughs at me and asks what the hell I am doing? I'm going to kiss him. It's the only way I will know if he even feels the same. It's not an unreasonable thought. He may feel the same and be going through exactly what I am going through: two besties who happen to be crushing wildly on one another but too scared to say anything for fear of losing and risking their friendship.

"I could, and here she is now." Says my Mom with a broad smile on her face. When she sees me, her eyes light up. She is so beautiful.

"What's that?" I ask them as I pull out a stool at the island and sit myself down on it. Pancakes are stacked on a plate in the middle with small bowls of strawberries, blueberries and some hazelnuts. A large jar of maple syrup sits by my plate. I love maple syrup and swear I could live off the stuff. But... I like having teeth.

"I need a new face for my Beauty With Kindness range, but it has to be a young adult as we're bringing the products to market for a younger sub-set. It needs to be someone who enjoys life, studies and works hard, enjoys the outdoors and sports. Someone's face that can reflect all of those things but a person who actually does these things too. We want lots of shots of them running, hiking, canoeing, you know that kind of stuff." Mom sits down opposite Dad, who I notice is still wearing his tartan blue pajamas. I love it when Dad is all casual; he has to work so hard and takes on board a helluva lot of stress, so seeing him with his morning brew and his GQ magazine, chilling out at breakfast, is a lovely sight.

The kitchen smells of pancakes and cake baking. I look around to see where the cakes are. And yes, I do like cake in the morning. I'm not a cereal breakfast person, and besides, I run six times a week. I was going to run this morning, but I'm too damn tired, having been awake, tossing and turning most of the night. You've got it. Thinking of none other than Brandon and this damn prom.

"And you're thinking of me?" I squeal. "I'd love to, Mom."

"It's not going to be a walk in the park though, Lizzie. It'll be over the summer, and there will be some travelling to locations, a lot of shooting, and you will have some pretty long and exhausting days. Being a cover model isn't all that easy, and for a brand launch it's going to be full on."

"So, I can do that," I tell her.

"We're also limited on time since we have that trip to Texas to get you settled in, and also you'll want to spend time with your friends and especially Brandon," Dad adds. He's always very practical.

"I'm sure I can manage everything. We could always go to Texas the week before and get me settled. It's not like I'm staying in dorms; you've got a house for me." I pour the maple syrup over my pancakes, which I have chosen to have with strawberries and blueberries. Lots of vitamin C and antioxidants to kind of balance out the amount of carb loading and sugar.

"We could, only we promised we'd visit your aunt and uncle too for a week," Mom says.

"Let's do it. If you're sure my face is the right fit, Mom. I mean, it's a massive new launch for you, and there are for sure more beautiful girls out there. Model girls." I say, stuffing my face.

"You are very beautiful, Lizzie. I don't think you realize how striking you are, honey." Mom says kindly. Maybe. I don't personally see myself like that. As far as I am concerned, I'm average with my dark chocolate hair that hangs to my waist, my different colored eyes, one green, one brown. I do have high cheekbones and full lips. They have been the bane of my childhood life. Kids at school when I was little used to call me all sorts of names: fat lips, bee lips, bulbous lips. Now I've come to see them as a thing of beauty because it didn't hurt Angelina Jolie.

"Thanks, Mom." I drink some of my herbal tea, thinking I'd rather have a coffee, but Mom is on a health kick right now and is banning me from having coffee five days out of seven. Only, this morning I need it to fuel me and wake me up some. Okay, I know caffeine is a myth since it only lifts then drops you, but it's a mind thing with me.

"Let me speak with my stakeholders and take some pictures of you, fresh new ones and put something together to present to them. We can start with you out running. Are you running this morning?" She asks.

I shake my head. "No. Crap, sleep and woke up late. I'm going out prom dress shopping with Tammy and Lilly, remember?"

"Of course. It's exciting. Are you sure you don't want me to come? I've got a great eye." She does have a great eye; my mother is at the top of fashion in the way she dresses.

"Noooo. I want something trendy, not one of those stuffy ball gowns." I tell her and wink.

"It's just that it's such a big thing and I really wanted to be part of it."

"I understand, Mom, but honestly I'd rather just go with the girls. Sorry." I do feel a bit of a heel because her little girl is now all grown up and she wants to be part of it.

"Tell you what, when I get married one day – you'll be the one coming with me for that which is more important than some silly prom. Besides, it doesn't hold the same meaning it used to back in your day. Now it's just about the kids drinking way too much and necking with each other in corners or having sex in the toilets."

"Too much information, Lizzie." My dad pipes up. Yeah, probably, but what can I say? It's the truth.

"I'll have to send you with a chaperone. I'll see if Graham can be available."

"No fucking way, Dad."

"Language, Lizzie."

"Yeah, but I am not going to prom with a friggin bodyguard detail. I'll be the laughing stock."

"You had best behave and not end up in the bathrooms with some guy, and make sure you do not take any drinks from anyone, not even your best friends. You get your drink and keep it in your sight at all times. Look what has just happened to Tammy, the poor girl. It's disgusting." I refrain from telling Dad she was actually taking pills; he would never let me out of his sight and put a body on me at all times when I went out. It gives me palpitations just thinking of that.

"And," he hasn't finished yet. "Don't drink the punch. We all know kids will add alcohol to it and God knows what else." Sounds like it's going to be a blast. Not.

"No, Dad," I mutter.

"I've got work to do," Mom says as she stands up and puts her dishes on the side. Niña will come in after ten and clear everything up.

"It's a Sunday, Mom."

"Work doesn't stop when you have your own business, Lizzie darling. Besides, I am really excited to collate some images I have of you and start to build the presentation. I know overall I have the final say, but I do have to get the others on board." I nod and finish eating my pancakes.

Upstairs, I have a quick shower as I'm already running behind by twenty minutes and Lilly will be here soon. As I come out of my room, I gasp. Brandon is lying on my bed with his arms behind his head.

"What are you doing here?" I squeak since I'm standing in front of him without anything on, I am butt naked as he shifts his head to the left and catches me full view.

Quickly, I dash back into my en-suite and grab a bath sheet. Holy fuck. How embarrassing. I want the ground to open up and swallow me whole. Please.

"Your mom let me in."

"Yes, but what are you doing here? Did we arrange to meet up and I forgot?" I am still standing in the bathroom, red as a beetroot. Now he's seen my tits and my pussy in a great full-on frontal. I want to hide.

"Lizzie, what are you doing? You can come on out of there. I've seen it all before. Jeez, why are you acting so damn weird?"

"I'm not acting weird, and you may have seen it all before, when we were fucking kids." I am exasperated. "Can't you just go? And answer my question. Did I forget you were coming over?"

I see his hand; great, so now he's just a few centimeters from where I am hiding in the bathroom, with just a towel wrapped round me. "Here, take this and get out of there." I see my pale pink kimono robe hanging off his fingertips. "You're killing me, Lizzie-baby."

He's fucking killing me is what he's doing.

I take it and wrap it around myself. Why the hell am I acting like such a ditz? Considering I want to have sex with Brandon and am going to try my best at prom, I'm acting like a full-on prude right now.

"Thanks," I say and come out of the bathroom.

"In answer to your question, I know you're going prom dress shopping today with the girls, and I wanted to come and wish you luck and to say I hope you have a great time out. Prom only comes once in a lifetime, and I know how much it means to girls." Aww, that is so adorable; he is the best.

Standing on my tiptoes, because I am only five-five and Brandon is six feet, I peck him on the cheek. He smells of citrus today; it's refreshing. I can feel the warmth of his body against my robe and imagine fleetingly what it'd be like for him to slip it from my body and run his long fingers down my chest to my abdomen and delve into my now wet pussy. Stop right there, Lizzie. He's right in front of you for fuck's sake.

Brandon moves his head down slightly and kisses the top of my head. Oh god, I want him so badly.